Battles of the Old Northwest Vol. VI - A Most Resolute Action, Fort Meigs 1813

The War of 1812 brought conflict once again to the state of Ohio and the Northwest Territory. The War of 1812 began badly for the US. In August, a two-thousand-man US army in Detroit was surrendered to the British and their First Nation allies by General William Hull without a shot being fired. General Harrison's army, that was meant to reinforce and relive General Hull, was forced to retreat back into Ohio following another defeat south of Detroit at the battle of River Raisin in January. Reforming south and east of Toledo, Harrison constructed a fort along the Maumee River, near present day Perrysburg, Ohio in February 1813.

In the Spring the British, Canadian and First Nation forces under the command of British General Henry Proctor advanced from their positions in Michigan and laid siege to Fort Meigs on May 1st. On May 5th General Harrison ordered two sorties by the US garrison to destroy British siege guns that were east and west of the river. Following orders they became involved in a protracted fight with tier enemies that led to nearly three quarters of the US militia and regulars being killed or captured (many of whom were later massacred by enraged First Nations warriors). However the US sorties were able to disable several of the British cannon before withdrawing back into Fort Meigs. Despite the US setbacks and losses, the British were unable to maintain their siege as their cannon had little effect on the fort's stout logs, and rainfall also made the land and earthwork defenses sodden and impervious to the British artillery.